James Reston, Jr., the most meticulous and strident member of David Frost's pit crew during the Nixon interviews, is a prolific writer with a wide array of interests. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and also taught creative writing there in the 1970s.
His play, Sherman, the Peacemaker (1979) is really good. I saw it performed in Chapel Hill and thoroughly enjoyed its wit and insight, and for its interesting treatment of Confederate General Joe Johnston, Sherman's key opponent in 1864 and 1865. Would love to see his play Jonestown Express (1984), which probably dovetails nicely with his Our Father Who Art in Hell, The Life and Death of Jim Jones (1981).
Other works by James Reston, Jr. include:
Sherman's March and Vietnam (1985).
Galileo: A Life (1994).
The Last Apocalypse: Europe in the Year 1000 A.D. (1998).
Warriors of God: Richard the Lionheart and Saladin in the Third Crusade (2001).
Dogs of God: Columbus, the Inquisition, and the Defeat of the Moors (2005).
The Conviction of Richard Nixon: The Untold Story of the Frost/Nixon Interviews (2007).
For more, here's a link to his website:
http://restonbooks.com/index.htm
Today's Rune: Movement.
4 comments:
Interesting. I'm not sure I ever heard of Reston before.
Sherman and Johnston respected each other as adversaries and became friends after the war. Johnston ultimately died of pneumonia after serving as one of Sherman's pallbearers at his funeral.
Erik...All of this life you have led thus far is not conducive to you becoming a Detroiter.
Eat a dozen coneys, imbibe a twelve pack of 48oz Old Milwaukee's and, scratch your butt through the holes in your shorts while watching the sport of the season.
All this learning and liking just won't do.
Lana and I watched something on James JOnes the other night.
Erik knows more about Joe Johnston and his family than most anybody. I just hope he finishes the book he started so we all can benefit.
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